Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-02-17

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-Ep'ToR or THx Crescent.
DEAN SIR As you know. thus far have Aaen
Nry patient IN the matter o. the Ms but It Is said
there are limits 10 every ones endurance and mat
CONFESS 70 being very angry. You have treated me
very s.sabbily-very ungentlemanly. would like
You 20 know exactly how seel about Il. But after
ms letter l WIN no longer trouble you. In the
course 81 the month intend visiting your city and
II not meantime received will then cali for the MS
myself Truly
"I.iDA LETIrIS LATHRor.r
Good for you. Miss Ida Letitia Lathror,
and 10 the meantime here go the stamps; and
stay shall send the Iette7si Hmm can't
for the life OF me see that It VIII mend mat.
tersi she won't get that precious manuscript
any sooner. No, let her beard the lion in his
den orher den, as the situation my develop "
Rowland Browne, Jr., took turn around
his Office, promptly reseating himself.
THIS uncertainty is becoming paiaful,n he
continued, 'and now that / think of Il. my
vacation commences about this time. 1t com
meneed week ago. only that my native in
deience prevented my taking advantage OF II.
am gong East as matter OF course II for
no other reason than to disentangle this mesh
oil Misunderstanding. Ny lawyer-like in
stincts win not allow of my remaining idle
with case like this pendiugn
Eleyating his feet to the highest altitude of
the desk opposite, he proceeded TO n careful
synopsis OF the case In hand Contribution
versus Editor, at cross-purposes, standing in
the relation of plaintiff and defendant This,
! take II, represents the position of affairs
Rowland Browne, Jr., just at the nick Of time,
puts in an appearance as counsel for plaintiff;
also, indirectly and psychologically for de-
Tense. A perplexing situation for a peaceably
disposed man like myself, truly. Hum-we
shall see; an interesting case, and one calling
for the highest intellectual dexterity on the
part of counsel"
And Rowland Browne, Jr., having satisfac-
toriiy arranged methods Of procedure In the
Forthcoming contest took his hat for a stroll
down the shaded streets OF Brownyille.
The village of Whiteside junction. Indiana.
at noontlde OF a warm July day, was sigui6
cant OF a profound repose One small dwell
ing, however, of Gothic structure. situated
near the turnpike road leading eastward
showed signs Of Life and activity. A Young
girl sat busily engaged in rhe arrangement of
a wardrobe
Mother" she called, from the chamber
above, with its small psned windows and low
ceiling, Il hate TO take from you this one
remnant OF past splendof, your only remaining
SILK What II you should want it yourself
some day. IL seems like absolute dissertation
of the past, plating and shIrring its richness
in accordance with the present fashion. 1
ought not TO take it, mother.n
Nonsense, Lula" replied Mrs Lathrop.
vi M ali shD he. 70 hs,s
err always intended 1t for you, only that,
heretofore, there has been no occasion for
wearing IL. We have lived so like hermits
here in this out ot-the-way place; you with
your teaching and your studies, and /, so
poorly calculated to brave the woodland,
poverty, Ida"
Yes, mother, know; but wait till I sell
the manuscript don't get discouraged,
mother. Mrs. Biggs said last night she should
probably go Monday week, If Jamey is better
and if. and IT, But / shall be ready when.
ever she isl must be, the fate Of nations
depends upon tito me-"
''Yes, Ida"
This gray brocade is most too handsome
I'm afraid for literary woman. think
might be classed among the lterdG, don't YOU
think 50! The article wrote on Bees was
copied In all the papers, l mean IN this vclni-
~; and, IL you can secure that manuscript,
ON which particular pride myself. by going,
shall feel repaid. cannot get over, though,
the strangeness of receiving stamps from an
entire stranger in Wisconsin. He begged me
to believe that il was al right, that, indeed,
he was indebted to me for that amount.
can't understand 1t at all''
Nal
seem strange"
How fortunate ii is that selected a gray
bat this spring" pursued Ida, sit just match.
es this broeade. do hope, though, to change
the subject that that editor has not lost my
manuscript. Editors, I have heard, are very
autocratic, and look you straight out of coun-
tenance If you dare question them. But
shall insist upon having my manuscript"
Mrs. Lathrop laughed little,
s'Don't be too sure, Ida you must remem-
Der that your manuscript is only one among
dozens of the same kindn
Not the same kind, mother, but my manu-
script may not be In fashion,
Fashion ~ exclaimed Mrs Lathrop
''Yes, fashion; and tn is no heresy; 1t Is
well understood among-among the Hteraf."
Il think should like TO occupy the position
of EDITOR she presently announced, II should
make point OF being very exact as regards
contributors. should remember that ! had
once been a contributor myself"
'sWell. child" sighed Mrs. Lathrop, 'sIf
can only see you happy I shall be content"
Miss Ida Letitia Lathrop smiled confident
~; then she laughed outright.
'Wby, mother, we are bound to be happy,
\ IN \
vain, promise you that Wait till sell the
manuscript; some day we shall get out of
this place, hope. ] always feel ashamed to
direct lettersfrom Whiteside Junction, espeei-
ally manuscript send to editors; l don't won
der that as rule my articles are returned.
Supposing now / mailed from Philadelphia,
or Chicago, or better still, Boston, it might be
that should be regarded with greater con-
sideration. But Whiteside Junction. 1t does
sound ridiculous. Do you suppose George
Eliot could have been George Eliot If her
manuscript had been superseded from White
side junction, Indianap'
.'well, my child, try to be content with
your lot"
Mother, dear. don't please say such dis
coursging things II / were content,
should never accomplish anything. 1t is the
divine discomfort by which we are fully
developed am afraid shall never be con
tent; l have not the temperament. ] have a
terribly graspiDg disposition; but most Of all,
mother, have an intense longing for change,
I cannot endure Whiteside Junction; except
that we have lived here so very long,
True, Ida, there are many reasons for our
attachment to Whiteside Junction"
- ~ tatlv
SIS that Mrs. Deacon Smith coming down
the roadp' asked Mrs Lathrop II think /
VIII step out and see about the sweet corn;
she partly promised to dry some for u.s."
Ida laughed lightly. "What mania we
have here in Indiana. for looking ahead,
mother; we seem always to be hobnobbiDg
with coming events, we get the start Of every
thing"
"Are we peculiar in this respect" returned
Mrs Lathrop. II think not"
IL was four o'clock OF an August day in the
editorial sanctum OF the Crescent, The editor,
Mrs. Henrietta johnson, sat In an attitude OF
unusual listIessness. She had had perplex'
ing day Of 1t. The chirography Of contributors
had been none Of the best; for some reason
their articles lacked point, acumen; they bad
not been worked out IN accordance with the
demands OF the times. The coming issue OF
the Crescent, she feared, would not prove
success.
A gentle ring at the Office door reused her
A young lady prettiily dressed 10 gray, &C
e,nlpanied by a middle aged lady, entered.
The young lady taking precedence, inquired II
she could see the editor.
Certainly" replied Mrs Henrietta John
son. II am the editor"
ooh, / am so glad | am Ida Letitia La
thrnr, of Whiteside Junction; but Of course,